Plotting two data series on same axis with different start dates (years)

**dbjones1988** · 03-26-2014, 06:45 PM

Hi - would some please be able to help me with this?!

I am trying to create a plot showing river discharge against time (years). I have two sets of data with one starting in 1970 and the other in 1971, but when I try and plot them on x axis both plots are started at the same time. I need the data points to reflect the correct time points (ie: one line to be delayed) I've pasted an image (the blue line needs shifting to right and should match the other line well).

Graph 1.jpg

Apologies if this is not clear!
Thanks

Darren

**MrShorty** · 03-26-2014, 07:54 PM

It can be difficult to provide any good suggestions from a picture. Is this a scatter plot, or is this a line graph with a date axis? What are the ranges being plotted for each data series? If I had to guess, I would guess that this is a line graph with a date axis and that you have not specified that you want the 2nd data series to use different "x/horizontal" data (if a line chart even supports different x data for each data series).

Maybe it is just me, because I use almost exclusively scatter plots, I would suggest you use an XY scatter chart for this, though I'm sure a line chart can be made to work.

**dbjones1988** · 03-27-2014, 04:13 AM

Hi - thanks for the reply

Apologies for not being clear enough - the original plot was a line graph with a date axis against a discharge value (y axis). The two ranges being plotted are both of the same river except one is modelled data and the other is observations that I have calibrated the model to. The observations are fewer data points in number and start later than the modelled data points by 12 months. It is as you suggest in terms of I need the 2nd data series to use different x axis data/format. I'll try to use a scatter instead if you believe this May work

Thanks again!